Famous for its friendly locals and vibrant cities, Canada is a great place to study. As an international student, you may be wondering about everyday prices in the country and if it’s affordable on your budget. You’re definitely wise to consider this, after all, the last thing you want is to be surprised by day-to-day costs.

In this article, we explore the cost of living in Canada so that you have all the information you need to make an informed choice.

What costs can I expect?

Are you wondering what costs you should be budgeting for as a student? You’re not alone. In fact, even local students will be asking the same questions.

For many people, university is their first time living away from home so it’s a learning curve for everyone. Obviously you’ll be able to cut some costs depending on your lifestyle, but there are certain things you’ll need to consider more carefully when working out your budget.

These things are:

• accommodation
• food and everyday essentials
• travel and transport
• entertainment
• connectivity (internet, mobile phone etc)
• hidden costs (things that are unique to you, for example, course supplies or visa fees)

Tuition fees

Broadly speaking, as an international student in Canada you can expect annual tuition fees in the region of:

• CAD 13,000 to CAD 125,000 (undergraduate level)
• CAD 5,000 to  CAD 100,000 (postgraduate level)

For a more detailed overview of tuition fees in Canada, why not read our article to get all the information you need?

Difference in cost between regions

As with any country, you’ll pay more to live in certain areas of Canada than you will in others. Cities are typically more expensive than rural areas and there’s variation between provinces too.

Ontario and British Columbia are generally considered the most expensive provinces in Canada. In fact, they are also home to the two most expensive cities in the country: Toronto and Vancouver, both well-known for being vibrant student hubs.

By contrast, the cheapest provinces to live in are New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador and Québec.

But you definitely shouldn’t let cost of living be the only deciding factor in where you study. There’s always variance in price, even between suburbs and properties. It’s worth researching individual areas before making a final decision.

Accommodation

Perhaps the most stressful expense many students experience is rent. It’s almost always expensive and not an area you can avoid. In Canada, most students choose to live on-campus in the first year, moving into a private rental for later years.

A less common option is a homestay, where you live with a local family for the duration of your course. For this, you might expect to pay in the region of CAD 800 to CAD 1,000 a month.

When comparing costs, remember that in a university-owned residence you will usually only pay rent for the academic year (8 months) whereas in private rentals your contract is for a full year.

University residence

Canada follows a similar model to the USA with on-campus residence being the most common choice for first year undergraduate students.

Most on-campus accommodation consists of dormitory style rooms which are often shared with one other student. You’ll also be able to make use of shared kitchens and communal areas.

Rent for on-campus accommodation usually covers your room, utilities (electricity, gas and water)  and sometimes even a meal-plan. Depending on the university, you can expect to pay somewhere between CAD 800 to CAD 2,500 rent per month, with prices at the lower end not including meals.

Private rentals

For students choosing to rent privately, you can still cut costs by sharing a property with other people. Not only will this reduce rent but bills too. Plus, it’s a great way to socialise!

Depending on the city and whether or not you choose to share with other students, you’ll likely be paying CAD 500 to CAD 2,300 a month in rent.

One disadvantage of renting privately though, is that utilities are rarely included in the cost. And in a country like Canada, where winters are long and cold, you’ll definitely need to budget for utility bills. Depending on the number of people you share with, you’ll probably spend about CAD 65 to CAD 230 a month on utilities (water, gas and electricity).

Food

If you don’t have meal plans included in your accommodation, you’ll need to learn to shop for groceries on a budget. Cooking for yourself is one of the fun life skills you’ll improve during your time at university and although budgeting for it can be a challenge. You’ll quickly learn how.

Assuming your accommodation is self-catered, and including everyday items such as toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, etc),  and cleaning products, we’d recommend setting aside CAD 400 to CAD 500 a month for groceries.

Transport

Depending on where you live in relation to your university, you may find you can walk or cycle most places, especially in the summer. But in the winter, or if you live further away, public transport will probably be more appealing. In Canada, you’ll most likely be using trains/subway or buses.

A short, single bus journey can cost anywhere between CAD 2.50 to CAD 3.20. A ride on the train or subway is slightly more, usually starting at CAD 2.50 to CAD 3.50. Taxis are also an option, but they are expensive and not ideal for a tight budget.

Many cities offer various travelcard options to make travel cheaper if you’re taking regular journeys. For example, Vancouver’s SkyTrain offers a day pass for CAD 10.75.

Some cities also have pay-as-you-go style cards (which deduct credit from the overall balance) like Toronto’s PRESTO card which also offers travel discounts.

It’s worth knowing that some universities’ tuition fees include free transport within their city, so it’s definitely worth checking this out. And even if this doesn’t apply to you, you should be entitled to some student discounts.

Entertainment

Budgeting for entertainment is more important than you might think. You’ll want to be having fun and taking part in things. and even if it’s just going for coffee with a friend, socialising is essential to the overall student experience.

Entertainment doesn’t have to cost a lot. There’s plenty of free things to do in Canada if you know where to look. Many cities are full of beautiful parks and gardens and if you’re on the coast there’s nothing better than a stroll by the sea.

Another option in most cities is signing up to taster sessions in a new skill or activity (for example yoga or cookery) for free – a great way of deciding if you like something before you commit to a course.

Some average costs for entertainment in Canada include:

• pint of beer : CAD 6.00
• cinema ticket: CAD 13
• concert ticket: CAD 120
• restaurant meal for two: CAD 80

Connectivity

Staying connected to friends and family back home is often a top priority for international students. For this, internet and a phone with a good amount of data are essential. University residences will usually cover internet fees in their rent but in a private rental you’ll need to pay separately.

Connectivity in Canada is unfortunately expensive, though you may be able to find cheap deals with a bit of research.

The average cost of broadband internet for a household in Canada is around CAD 100 per month. But as this is per property, if you share with other students, you can expect to only pay a portion of this amount.

It’s similarly expensive to have a SIM card with plenty of data. And you’ll want lots of data so you can avoid having to make costly international phone calls to keep in touch with home. Expect to budget CAD 60 to CAD 100 per month for this sort of SIM-only plan.

Miscellaneous and hidden costs 

It’s really important to include an emergencybudget for unexpected costs when you’re living abroad. But there are other one-off or occasional costs you can expect.

As with anywhere, you’ll need to consider clothing, but in Canada you should give real thought to winter clothing. This will be essential to your stay but can be quite expensive. You should also consider whether you’ll need to buy any household goods or things like bed linen.

When it comes to your course, you should be able to find many of your reading materials in the university library or online but you’ll still need to budget for textbooks, stationery and any course equipment you might need.

You’ll also want to consider costs associated with your arrival such as your study permit and medical insurance. Our article on applying for your study visa offers some insight into what to expect.

Try not to get too stressed over the cost of living in Canada. Just remember to keep an eye open for student discounts. And if finances are a real concern, you can always take on a part-time job to help fund your lifestyle.

At the time of writing 1 CAD is equal to 0.78 USD

Disclaimer: All figures in this article are indicative only and correct at the time of writing. Since the economy can be subject to rapid, unexpected changes at any time, we always recommend you do your own research before booking any travel.